In a three-month period from August to October 2023,[1][2] wildfires in Louisiana burned more than 60,000 acres (94 sq mi), and forced evacuations across several towns in the state, including Merryville and Singer.

[7] Several state routes across Beauregard Parish were closed, including portions of Louisiana highways 27, 110, and 389.

[8][9] In DeRidder, nursing homes were evacuated as a precaution due to the fast-moving Tiger Island fire.

[6] Water infrastructure near Singer was damaged, leading to significant losses in pressure and causing outages.

[21] Two days later, on August 27, the fire grew in size to 33,000 acres (52 sq mi), and, according to officials, became the largest wildfire ever recorded in the state.

[29][30] Rainfall across western portions of the fire in early September 2023 helped firefighters to increase the containment of the wildfire to 65 percent.

[9][25] Assistance also came from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,[37] and Tennessee, and 161 bulldozers from the National Guard were deployed.

[7][39][40] Emergency operations centers were activated on August 23, and a church was opened for a temporary shelter in DeRidder, Louisiana.

[45] The United Way of southwest Louisiana started a fire fund for collecting donations to assist wildfire victims.